Ring used in a small pupil phacoemulsification procedure
A ring that can maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops that capture iris tissue. The ring is configured to extend the pupil when iris tissue is inserted into each loop. An ophthalmic procedure such as phacoemulsification can then be performed on the patient. The ring has a center opening that provides a wide view of the ocular chamber during the procedure.
This application claims priority to Application No. 60/918,405 filed on Mar. 15, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ring used in a ophthalmic surgical procedure.
2. Background Information
There are various ophthalmic procedures that require the dilation of the pupil. For example, cataracteous lenses are typically replaced in a procedure commonly referred to as phacoemulsification or phaco for short. In a phaco procedure the lens is broken up with an instrument, typically with an ultrasonically driven tool. The instrument has an aspiration port that aspirates the broken lens material from the patient's ocular-chamber.
It is desirable to extend the pupil during a phaco procedure to provide the surgeon with a wide view of the lens. One technique for extending the pupil includes pulling back the iris with a series of plastic hooks. It is has been found that using plastic hooks can cause damage to iris tissue.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA ring used to maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops.
Described is a ring that can maintain a pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure. The ring has a plurality of loops that capture iris tissue. The ring is configured to extend the pupil when iris tissue is inserted into each loop. An ophthalmic procedure such as phacoemulsification can then be performed on the patient. The ring has a center opening that provides a wide view of the ocular chamber during the procedure.
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers,
The ring 10 preferably has a square configuration such that the sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 are of equal dimension. Although a square ring is shown and described, it is to be understood that the ring may have a rectangular configuration where all sides 20, 22, 24 and 26 are not of equal dimension. Additionally, the ring may have a non-rectangular shape. For example, the ring 10 may be shaped as a triangle that has three sides and three loops located at the ring corners. Although three and four sided rings have been described, it is to be understood that the ring may have any number of side and loops. The ring 10 is preferably constructed from a molded plastic material, although it is to be understood that other materials such as metal or plastic coated metal may be employed.
As shown in
As shown in
The injector 100 includes a cannula 120 attached to a handle 122. Within the cannula 120 is a wire hook 124. The wire hook 124 is connected to an inner slide tube 126 located within the handle 122. A button 128 is attached to the inner slide tube 126. The injector 100 may also have a pair of guide pins 130 that are attached to the handle 122 and cooperate with corresponding channel features 132 of the base plate 106 to properly align the injector 100 when the cannula 120 is inserted into the base plate channel 110.
In operation, the cannula 120 is inserted into the base plate channel 110. When fully inserted the wire hook 124 extends to approximately the center of the ring 10. The cover 104 may have an opening 134 that allows an operator to visually see the hook 124 within the ring opening. An operator then pulls the button 128 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Pulling the button 128 causes the hook 124 to grasp the ring loops and pull the ring 10 into the cannula 120. The recess 112 has tapered walls 136 to assist in the ring collapsing within the channel 112 for insertion into the cannula 120. Once loaded, the ring 10 can be injected into a patient's eye by pushing the button 128 in the opposite direction.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A ring used to maintain a pupil in a patient's eye in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure, comprising:
- a polygonal ring formed from a single strand and located within a plane, said polygonal ring having at least three corners,
- a helical loop located at each corner of said polygonal ring, each helical loop making at least one full turn, each helical loop being disposed in the plane of the polygonal ring,
- wherein each helical loop includes a top strand portion that overlaps a bottom strand portion, the top strand portion and the bottom strand portion disposed at an angle with respect to one another, thereby forming a wedge-shaped gap facing the periphery of the polygonal ring, said wedge-shaped gap configured to capture tissue.
2. The ring of claim 1, wherein said ring is shaped as a rectangle.
3. The ring of claim 2, wherein said ring is shaped as a square.
4. The ring of claim 1, wherein each loop has more than one full turn.
5. An ophthalmic retractor, comprising:
- a rectangular frame formed from a single strand and located within a plane,
- a helical loop located at each corner of said rectangular frame, each helical loop making at least one full turn, each helical loop disposed in the plane of the rectangular frame,
- wherein each helical loop includes a top portion that overlaps a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portions disposed at an angle with respect to one another, thereby forming a wedge-shaped gap facing the periphery of the rectangular frame, said wedge-shaped gap configured to capture tissue.
6. The retractor of claim 5, wherein the wedge-shaped gap is configured to capture the iris of a patient's eye.
7. The retractor of claim 6, wherein the rectangular frame is a square frame.
8. The ring of claim 1, wherein the loops are positioned equidistantly along the ring.
9. A device for maintaining a patient's pupil in an extended position during an ophthalmic procedure, the device comprising:
- a polygonal ring formed from a strand, said polygonal ring including:
- a central opening,
- at least three corners, said corners being disposed equidistantly along the polygonal ring, and
- at least three side elements, each side element connecting two adjacent corners,
- each corner including a loop, each loop further including a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein:
- each side element connects the top portion and the bottom portion of two adjacent loops;
- the top portion and the bottom portion of each loop form a wedge-shaped gap facing away from the central opening.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said polygonal ring is shaped as a rectangle.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein said polygonal ring is a square.
12. The device of claim 9, wherein said polygonal ring includes four loops.
13. The device of claim 9, wherein each loop makes more than one full turn.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the polygonal ring is configured to adapt one or more of configurations selected from a folded configuration or an extended configuration.
15. The device of claim 9, wherein the strand includes a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being attached to each other.
3975779 | August 24, 1976 | Richards et al. |
4321916 | March 30, 1982 | McKee |
4446582 | May 8, 1984 | Hanna |
4991567 | February 12, 1991 | McCuen et al. |
5267553 | December 7, 1993 | Graether |
5318011 | June 7, 1994 | Federman et al. |
5334217 | August 2, 1994 | Das |
5489295 | February 6, 1996 | Piplani et al. |
6068643 | May 30, 2000 | Milverton |
6200336 | March 13, 2001 | Pavcnik et al. |
6497724 | December 24, 2002 | Stevens et al. |
6620098 | September 16, 2003 | Milverton |
6814748 | November 9, 2004 | Baker et al. |
7412993 | August 19, 2008 | Tzeng |
7985180 | July 26, 2011 | Brown |
20030092970 | May 15, 2003 | Lee |
93 20 127 | May 1994 | DE |
14506 | February 2000 | RU |
14505 | September 2000 | RU |
- Supplementary European Search, May 23, 2011 for PCT/US08/03472.
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 5, 2008
Date of Patent: Dec 4, 2012
Patent Publication Number: 20080269888
Inventor: Boris Malyugin (Moscow)
Primary Examiner: Paul Prebilic
Attorney: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C.
Application Number: 12/074,742
International Classification: A61F 9/00 (20060101);